Bulls’ Patrick Williams promises to be healthy for training camp originally appeared in NBC Sports Chicago
Presented by National Insurance Agent Jeff Vukovich
LAS VEGAS — The fact that Patrick Williams re-signed with the Chicago Bulls for five years and $90 million and isn’t even the most important storyline surrounding the fifth-year forward tells you everything you need to know about his importance for this next iteration of the list.
Williams’ season ended in late February after just 43 games, and he underwent surgery on his left foot shortly afterward.
Following last month’s NBA Draft, executive vice president Artūras Karnišovas was noncommittal about Williams’ preparation for training camp. But with just two words, Williams said yes.
“Absolutely,” he said Saturday at halftime of the Bulls’ summer league opener.
Williams attended the game with Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu, Dalen Terry and Chris Duarte, who was acquired from Sacramento in the DeMar DeRozan sign-and-trade acquisition.
Initially sidelined by bone edema, Williams said resting from the bone bruise has been a big part of his rehabilitation, estimated to take four to six months. But now he is being allowed to do more.
“I’m running and jumping now with no pain, no swelling. So it’s just a matter of getting my legs back together,” Williams said. “The bone is completely healed. This rehab process is basically resting, making sure I’m getting enough rest with that foot. Reviewing some things like how you run, how you walk, some preventative things. But for the most part, it’s letting the bone rest, letting the body do what it does.
“After four months of not being able to jump, the leg muscles, the Achilles strength, the pop that comes from playing a lot, you have to get that back. It’s the same thing if I sprain my ankle and I’m out for two weeks. It will take a while to get that pop back. This is what I’m dealing with right now. It couldn’t happen at a better time.”
Nor does the Bulls’ belief in the forward, who, as the fourth overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, represents Karnišovas’ first significant personal move. Williams hasn’t even considered other restricted free agency offers, indicating his desire to re-sign before June 30.
“They believe in me. I believe in them,” he said. “And we’re ready to get to work.”
With the departures of DeRozan and Alex Caruso, it is clear that management is focused on the youth movement as the centerpiece of this next iteration of the roster. With career averages of 9.7 points and 41 percent 3-point shooting, Williams has shown promise as a “3 and D” wing.
He also played all 82 games in his third season, but had two of his first four seasons cut short due to surgeries.
Williams said the new contract provides good security for his family, but it hasn’t changed his day-to-day life and won’t change his work ethic.
“For sure, obviously it’s big for my family. For me, the work doesn’t stop,” Williams said. “I think it’s more work, more on my shoulders, being a leader of this team now, using some of my experience, but also still growing.
“I’m ready. We can’t say anything right now that will stop us from working. I think we have the pieces we need. The roster isn’t solidified, but I’m happy where we are right now. It’s all about work. And we have a good group of guys who will do it.”
DeRozan had great interest in all young players, but he had a special bond with Williams, whom he invited to his off-season workouts for two consecutive seasons. Williams said he still talks to DeRozan “all the time” and joked about how he will talk trash about him on the court when they play next season.
“This is a relationship that goes beyond basketball,” Williams said. “Just being able to play with him for the time I spent, the things I learned from him and took from him, he knows I’m going to use that for this next year and the rest of my life, really. This is a brother for life.”
